Teens who eat breakfast are less likely to get fat

I can't seem to get my teenage son to eat breakfast in the morning. He barely gets up for school. Should I be worried?

A: If it's any consolation, 12-34 percent of children and adolescents regularly skip breakfast.

A recent study of 2,216 adolescents, which tracked eating patterns and weight concerns among teenagers, found that half ate breakfast intermittently and fewer than 30 percent ate breakfast every day. Girls were more likely to skip breakfast consistently than boys.

There is a paradoxical relationship with breakfast frequency and body mass index (BMI), a measurement of potential obesity in the study group. Specifically, those teenagers who ate breakfast consistently had a lower BMI than those that never ate breakfast. This relationship persisted over the five years of the study.

It has been well documented that the prevalence of being overweight has nearly tripled in adolescents over the past two decades. It appears that a simple intervention like regular breakfast consumption could contribute to the reduction in the long-term occurrence of obesity in the teenage population. Tell your son to eat his breakfast.

Dr. B.,

Now that the summer is around the corner, my 16-year-old daughter has asked that I pay for six sessions at the local tanning salon so she doesn't hit the beach looking like a ghost. I heard that artificial tanning is bad for teenagers. What do you think?

A: The artificial tanning industry has grown dramatically in the last 40 years and now represents almost $5 billion in revenues with 28 million visits made to 50,000 tanning facilities in the United States.

Unfortunately, artificial tanning is especially popular among teenage girls, with 28 percent of teenage girls stating that they used tanning salons at least three times in one survey. The percentages double from younger to older teenagers.

It is well known that salon tanning is dangerous. Artificial UV radiation exposure has been repeatedly identified as a risk factor in sunburn, skin dryness, drug reactions, cataracts and carcinogenesis. A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that a first exposure to tanning beds before age 35 significantly increased the risk of melanoma, the most malignant of skin cancers.

Fortunately, intense lobbying efforts by the Indoor Tanning Association have been counteracted by legislative actions in a variety of states including requiring parental consent, a doctor's prescription or parental presence at the salon. However, I know of no such legislation in New York state.

My advice to you is to prohibit your daughter from using the salon and make sure she uses skin block with at least SPF 15 when she goes to the beach. Skin cancer is not glamorous.

Dr. B.,

My son's lacrosse coach wants him to lift weights this summer to stay in shape for the spring season next year. What are your thoughts on weight lifting in teenagers?

A: Contrary to common opinion, pre-adolescents and adolescents can consider strength training (using weights and resistance to build muscles) to improve athletic performance.

This training should not begin before around age 8 when balance and postural control skills have not matured to adult levels.

It's OK for your son to improve his performance. Just make sure he does it right. The following should be considered:

Before beginning the program, get a medical evaluation Proper equipment, resistance techniques and safety precautions should be followed, preferably under the supervision of a certified trainer Power lifting, body building and maximal weight lifts should be avoided Stay clear of any steroids or other performance enhancing substances Couple aerobic conditioning (running, bicycling, etc.) with weight training Make sure your son has 10-15 minute warm-up and cool-down periods.

Dr. Alan B. Bernstein is chief medical officer and pediatrician with the Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center, a nonprofit, multispecialty community health center in Newburgh. Dr. B. welcomes reader questions about the care of children and adolescents. Questions can be sent to him at DrB@ghvfhc.org. The center can be reached at 563-8000.

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